These American Classics are the hen and rooster varieties your grandparents raised years ago. This same set of hens and roosters are dependable and your best bet for a small homesteading flock. Breeds covered include the Barred Plymouth Rock, Jersey Giant, Brahma, New Hampshire Red, Minorca and more. See the illustrated chart of hens and roosters in the image gallery.
| Breed | Primary Use | Egg Color | Mature Weight | Other Characteristics |
| Eggs Meat | Brown White | Hen Cock | ||
| Rhode Island Red | x x | x | 6-1/2 9 | Most productive layer of dual-purpose breeds |
| New Hampshire Red | x x | x | 6-1/2 8 | Matures earlier, lays less than Rhode Island Red |
| Plymouth Rock | x x | x | 7-1/2 9-1/2 | Good winter egg production if kept warm |
| Dominique | x x | x | 5 7 | Hardy, good forager |
| Wyandotte | x x | x | 6-1/2 8-1/2 | Cold-tolerant |
| Jersey Giant | x | x | 10 13 | Matures slowly, disease- resistant |
| Brahmas | x | x | 9-1/2 12 | Good setting hens |
| Black Australorp | x x | x | 6-1/2 8-1/2 | Active but tolerant of confinement |
| Lakenvelder | x x | x | 4 5 | Small but meaty, nonsetter |
| Orpington | x x | x | 8 10 | Quiet, gentle, good setter, cold-tolerant |
| Ancona | x | x | 4-1/2 6 | Good forager, “camouflage” coloring |
| Leghorn | x | x | 4-1/2 6 | Champion egg layer; many strains, hybrids |
| Minorca | x | x | 7-1/2 9 | Excellent forager, nonsetter, large eggs |
